ALBANY, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo launched a new comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence across New York. The Governor has allocated two million dollars to develop community specific anti-gun violence and has singled out Albany and Schenectady to receive additional grant money.
Pastor Charlie Muller runs Enough, which is a program that allows people to trade in working handguns for a $150 gift card.
"We're not law enforcement taking the guns. We're a church, it might be a little different from the norm but people trust me," Pastor Muller said.
Since Enough started out of the Victory Christian Church back in June 2008, Pastor Muller said he had more than 400 handguns turned in, which has helped make Albany safer.
"We're a community program that's connected with the DA's office, with the Sheriff's Dept and with that collaberation, we've done a lot with very little," Pastor Muller said.
With that continuing financial hardship, Pastor Muller is hoping his program can receive some of the money Governor Cuomo is making available to Albany through his new statewide initiative.
The program has four components. The first awards a million dollars to six communities across the state, among them Albany and Schenectady. The other include an advertising campaign, supporting effective community based violence intervention programs and creating a toll-free gun tip line to encourage the public to report illegal firearms.
Another Albany based group, SNUG or guns spelled backwards, has been working with police to stop violence in Arbor Hill. The Governor recently awarded them funding, which allowed them to keep their doors open.
"We are most effective as grabbing those individuals who are likely to be the ones who do the crimes, the shootings, the violent acts and work with them and change their direction," Jamel Muhammad, SNUG's Program Director said.
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